System and method for organizing hair accessories

ABSTRACT

A system that provides an easy way to organize, store, display, and access hair accessories such as hair clips, bobby pins, and elastic pony tails. In a first embodiment, the system includes a support structure, a fabric piece secured to the support structure, a magnet secured to the fabric piece, at least one metallic disc or charm which attaches to the magnet and which is attachable to a hair accessory, and a mechanism for attaching the system to a vertical surface. In a second embodiment, the system includes a support structure, a magnet secured to the support structure, and at least one metallic charm that is attachable to hair accessories.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and method for organizing hair accessories. More particularly, the system and method for organizing hair accessories utilize metallic discs or “charms” for attaching hair accessories to a magnet secured to a fabric strip for storing and displaying the hair accessories when not being worn.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There exists various systems for storing hair accessories such as bobby pins, barrettes, elastic bands, etc. Such systems typically are containers having boxes and compartments, or are vanity racks, etc. These systems tend to have a lot of moving parts (e.g., compartments that open and close), and tend to be bulky or unwieldy and therefore often take up precious space on a counter top, or in a drawer or cabinet. Also with conventional systems the hair accessories tend to get tangled up with each other when stored. There is a further problem wherein the drawbacks of existing systems often cause people not to use any system at all, and therefore hair accessories tend to end up loose, around the home, in a drawer or purse, in a corner of a counter top, etc.

There are also instances when styling hair that one hand is holding the hair up while the other hand is searching for a hair accessory. This searching often causes the hair style to be lost (and hence the need for it to be re-done) because the other hand that is not holding the hair up is needed to find and untangle the hair accessory. Thus, a disadvantage of conventional systems is a cumbersome and time consuming process for styling hair because it is difficult to hold a hair style while easily accessing a hair accessory at the same time.

Therefore, there exists a need to provide a novel system and apparatus that overcomes the above-noted and other drawbacks of the existing systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One goal of the present invention is to provide a simple way to organize, store, display, and access hair accessories such as hair clips, bobby pins, elastic pony tails, and the like.

In that regard, a first embodiment of the present invention is a system for organizing and displaying hair accessories that comprises a substrate, a magnet secured to the substrate, and at least one metallic charm, wherein each metallic charm is configured such that hair accessories are attachable thereto.

Once the hair accessories are attached to the charms, the charms are not intended to be removed from the hair accessories even when the hair accessories are being worn, however optionally, the charms can be removed from the hair accessories when the hair accessories are being worn depending on the comfort and style of the user.

This system may furthering include a support structure and means for attaching the system to a vertical surface. The substrate may be a fabric piece and the support structure may be a ring, such that the fabric piece is secured to the support structure. The means for attaching the system to a vertical surface may be a suction cup.

In one embodiment, the substrate and the magnet are rectangular. In another embodiment, the substrate and the magnet are circular. In both embodiments, the magnet is a permanent magnet. Of course, the present invention is not limited to these alternatives.

The charms can be in the form of round discs or can be in the form of any suitable shape and size. The charms can receive the hair accessories by a double loop such as in a key ring or by a clasp having a metal ring with a spring mechanism and/or by a simple small ring such as a jump ring. The hair accessories include hair clips, bobby pins, elastic pony tails, and the like. Each charm is made of iron, nickel, cobalt, or any alloy thereof.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for organizing and displaying hair accessories, comprising the steps of removing a hair accessory from strands of hair of a user, attaching the hair accessory to a metallic charm, and attaching the metallic charm to a magnet attached to a substrate.

The hair accessory can be attached to the charm by a double loop or by a clasp having a metal ring with a spring mechanism and/or by a jump ring.

The method may further comprise attaching the substrate to a vertical surface. For example, the substrate may attach to a vertical surface by a suction cup. Alternatively, the method may comprise the step of placing the substrate into a purse or travel bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from a detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the following figures of the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention as a hanging fabric strip for storing and displaying hair accessories on a vertical surface.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention which is a portable or travel version that can easily fit into a purse or travel bag.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the hair accessory organizer.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the first embodiment of the hair accessory organizer.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the first embodiment of the hair accessory organizer.

FIG. 6 is a right side view of the first embodiment of the hair accessory organizer.

FIG. 7 is a left side view of the first embodiment of the hair accessory organizer.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the first embodiment of the hair accessory organizer.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the first embodiment of the hair accessory organizer.

FIG. 10 is perspective view showing the first embodiment of the hair accessory organizer in environmental use.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the hair accessory organizer.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the second embodiment of the hair accessory organizer.

FIG. 13 is a rear view of the second embodiment of the hair accessory organizer.

FIG. 14 is a right side view of the second embodiment of the hair accessory organizer.

FIG. 15 is a left side view of the second embodiment of the hair accessory organizer.

FIG. 16 is a top view of the second embodiment of the hair accessory organizer.

FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the second embodiment of the hair accessory organizer.

FIG. 18 is perspective view showing the second embodiment of the hair accessory organizer in environmental use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention in one embodiment is a system that has metallic discs or “charms” (2) that attach to hair accessories (3). When the hair accessories (3) are not in use, they can be attached to the charms (2) which in turn can be attached via a magnet (4) of a hair accessory organizer (1) for storing and/or displaying the hair accessories (3). Once the hair accessories (3) are attached to the charms (2), it is intended that the charms (2) not be removed from the hair accessories (3), but optionally, the charms (2) can be removed from the hair accessories (3) when the hair accessories (3) are being worn depending on the comfort and style of the user.

The charms (2) can take the form of round discs as shown in the drawings, or may have any other suitable shape. Each charm (2) is, at least in part, made of any ferromagnetic material including, for example, iron, nickel, cobalt, any alloys thereof, etc. Of course, it is to be understood that these materials are just examples and that other materials may also be suitable.

In one embodiment, the charms (2) receive the hair accessories (3) by a key ring or double loop (6). For example, either end of the double loop (6) can be forcibly opened and the hair accessory (3) can be slid along a spiral until it becomes wholly engaged. In another embodiment, the charms (2) can receive the hair accessories (3) by a spring ring clasp (not shown). In this embodiment, a metal ring with a spring mechanism such as that commonly used for jewelry is used. A small lever is pulled back and a spring is compressed, leaving an opening so that a hair accessory (3) can be slid inside. Releasing the lever causes the clasp to close automatically, firmly attaching the hair accessory (3) to the charm (2). In another embodiment, a simple small ring such as a jump ring can be added that is looped into a dye cut circle on the charm (2) and clasped around or slid onto the hair accessory (3). Of course, other suitable methods for attaching the hair accessories (3) to the charms (2) can be readily envisioned.

The magnet (4) can be a magnetic strip as in one embodiment, or can be a circular magnet (8) as in another embodiment, or can be any suitable shape. The magnet (4) is a permanent magnet. Of course, the present invention is not limited to these alternatives.

In a first embodiment of the present invention, the hair accessories (3) hang from the charms (2) which are attached magnetically to a magnet (4) that is secured via, e.g., glue to a strip of fabric (9) that is in turn secured to the support structure (5). The strip of fabric (9) is a substrate to which the magnet is secured. For example, the magnet may have an adhesive on one side that attaches to the fabric. There is also another piece of fabric (14) placed on top of the magnet and stitched completely around the magnet. The charms can be attached anywhere on the piece of fabric (14) placed on top of the magnet. This embodiment is shown in FIG. 1. The support structure (5) is a ring through which the strip of fabric (9) can be slid through and thereby attached to by closing the ends of the strip of fabric (9). The magnet (4) can be glued onto the strip of fabric (9), or a pocket can be sewn for encapsulating and thereby securing the magnet (4) into the strip of fabric (9). Other methods for securing the magnet (4) to the strip of fabric (9) are readily envisioned by those of ordinary skill in the art.

As an example, the diameter of the ring support structure (5) can be approximately 1.5 inches and the strip of fabric (9) can have a length of approximately 4 inches and a width of approximately 1.5 inches. The magnet (4) can have a length of approximately 3.75 inches and a width of approximately 0.25 inches. It is of course to be understood that these are just examples and the dimensions of these components can be varied.

In addition to the strip of fabric (9), the hair accessory organizer (1) can optionally have an overlay of fabric (12) that goes over the strip of fabric (9) such that the magnet (4) is adhered to the overlay of fabric (12) instead of the strip of fabric (9). The overlay of fabric (12) can in turn be stitched or glued to the strip of fabric (9), for example. The overlay of fabric (12) provides additional aesthetic flare to the hair accessory organizer (1) and can be in a variety of colors, patterns, or designs. The optional overlay of fabric (12) can have a length of 4 inches and a width of 0.875 inches. Of course, these dimensions are merely exemplary and can be varied.

Ribbon, cloth, or any textile made from natural or artificial fibers may, for example, be used for the fabric pieces used by the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the support structure (5) is attached by a hook mechanism (11) to a suction cup (10) thereby allowing the hair accessory organizer (1) to be attached to a vertical surface by the suction cup (10). In this manner, the hair accessory organizer (1) can be attached to a mirror, glass pane, wall, or other suitable vertical surface for storing and displaying the hair accessories (3). For example, the hair accessory organizer (1) can be easily attached to a bathroom vanity mirror to make all hair accessories (3) thereon easy to “grab and go.” This system therefore creates an easy way to organize, store, display, and access hair accessories (3).

Other methods for attaching the hair accessory organizer to a vertical surface are contemplated. For example, the hair accessory organizer can be attached to a vertical surface by means of a hook, screw, nail, adhesive, Velcro (not shown), or others.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, the hair accessory organizer (1) comprises a magnet or a high powered magnet (8) attached to a support structure such as a fabric overlay (13) that can easily fit into a purse or travel bag, for example. An additional fabric overlay (15) may be used to cover the magnet (8). This embodiment is therefore more suited as a travel or portable embodiment and is shown in FIG. 2. The discs or charms (2) are similar to those described earlier and attach to the magnet (8) which eliminates loose unorganized hair accessories (3) when traveling. The hair accessories (3) can attach to the charms (2) in ways similar to those described in relation to FIG. 1. Indeed, where relevant the features and concepts described above in connection with FIG. 1 can apply to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

The fabric overlay (13) and the magnet (8) can be circular or round or may have any other suitable shape. As an example, a circular fabric overlay (13) can have a diameter of approximately 2.25 inches and a circular magnet (8) can have a diameter of approximately 2 inches. It is of course contemplated that the shape and dimensions of these components can be varied, and these shapes and dimensions are merely provided as illustrative examples.

One advantage of the present invention is that the system described herein can hold hair accessories that either have ferromagnetic parts or do not have ferromagnetic parts.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 

1. A system for organizing and displaying hair accessories, comprising a substrate; a magnet secured to the substrate; at least one metallic charm, wherein each metallic charm is configured such that hair accessories are attachable thereto.
 2. The system according to claim 1, furthering including a support structure and means for attaching the system to a vertical surface.
 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the substrate is a fabric piece and the support structure is a ring, and wherein the fabric piece is secured to the support structure
 4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the means for attaching the system to a vertical surface is a suction cup.
 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the substrate and the magnet are rectangular.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the substrate and the magnet are circular.
 7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the charms are in the form of round discs.
 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the charms receive the hair accessories by a double loop.
 9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the charms receive the hair accessories by a clasp having a metal ring with a spring mechanism.
 10. The system according to claim 1, wherein each charm is made of iron, nickel, cobalt, or any alloy thereof.
 11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet.
 12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the hair accessories include hair clips, bobby pins, and elastic pony tails.
 13. A method for organizing and displaying hair accessories, comprising the steps of: attaching a hair accessory to a metallic charm; and attaching the metallic charm to a magnet attached to a substrate.
 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the hair accessory is attached to the charm by a double loop.
 15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the hair accessory is attached to the charm by a clasp having a metal ring with a spring mechanism.
 16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising attaching the substrate to a vertical surface.
 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the substrate is attached by a suction cup to the vertical surface.
 18. The method according to claim 13, further comprising placing the substrate into a purse or travel bag. 